Flexible shaft coupling



,Patented ay '7, 1929.

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` CARL H. IKNUDSEN, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE SHAIE'T COUPLING.

Application file'd March 12, 1926. Serial No. 94,343.

- This invention relates to shaft couplings and particularly to tle provision of a flexible or resilicnt coupling of this class; and the object of the invention is to provide a shaft coupling consisting of a comparatively sudden strains and stresses to which thel engine and mechanism shafts are subjected, may be compensated for through said resilient coupling; a further object being to provide a coupling of the class described which is mounted axially of the shafts whereby the action of centrifugal forces upon the coupling shaft is obviated or reduced to a minimum, thus preventing vibration between the members so coupled together;

i' `Vand with these and other objects in view,

the invention consists in a coupling of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which may be constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is'fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters m each of the views, and in whicl1:--

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing two shafts of different apparatus or mechanisms coupled together by my improved coupling; and,

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of one of the shafts shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the method of mounting the coupling in connection therewith. I

In the drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated at 5, the shaft of an 'internal combustion engine which may ,constitute a crank shaft or a power shaft driven from one or more engine crank shafts through a gear 6 on the shaft 5. One end of the shaft 5 is preferably enlarged as seen at 7 and provided with a split 8 in said enlarged portion. I have also indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, another shaft 9 in axial alinement with the shaft 5, and in spaced relation therewith the shaft of a mechanisn or apparatus driven by the independent shaft 57, for example the shaft of a generator. One end of the shaft 9 is enlarged as seen'at 10, and the enlarged portion is split as shown at 11. It will be seen that the splits 8 and 11 extend radially and transversely through the axis of the respective shafts 5 and 9. Mounted in the split of each shaft is a U-shaped bearing member 12 forming in the channel thereof a recess or chamber 13 to receive the end of a coupling bar 14 Which snugly fits in said recess or chamber.

The transverse dimensions of the U-shaped bearing member 12 and the bar 14 preferably correspond with the dome of the enlarged ends 7-10 of the shafts 5-9 respectively, it being understood that one of the bearing members 12 is inserted in each of the split portions. One end of the coupling bar 14 sets in one bearing and the other end in the other bearing, it being understood that the bar 14 is cut to a size to fit between the adjacent ends of the shafts 5 and 9 and to provide a slight clearance at the base of the recesses 13 in the respective coupling members 12 as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing.l

Mounted upon the enlarged portions 7-10 of the shafts 5 9 are reinforced land retaining collars 15 which encircle the split portions of said shafts and fit snugly thereon, and held in position by one or more set screws 16 having lock nuts 17. The collars 15 in addition to reinforcing the split portions of the shafts also servel to retain the coupling bar 14 against displacement and yet permit of longitudinal movement of the bar with relation to the bearing 12when the bar 14 is subjected to stresses or strains which would tend to slightly twist the bar 14 against the spring resilienoy thereof or provided therein.

It will be understood that the dimensions of the bar 14 will be made to compensate for the stresses or strains to which the same may be subjected and will be composed of strong spring steel, constructed to permit of a twisting spring action in said bar to compensate for the shocks and strains on the respective shafts as above stated. It will also be understood that the enlargement 7--10 on the respective shafts serves to give strength and durability thereto by virtue of the splitting of said shafts, and the extent the coupling and to 'avoid the replacement or renewal of ,the respective shafts 5 and 6, it being understood that-wheneith'ei-,or both of the bearings 12 become,,wornpthesame may be 'removed and substituted by`y new bearings at avery nomnalfeost. I-It'Will also be understoodthat theouts'tanding fea- ,prising a bar of spring metal, the end of ture of -iny invention'resides not onlynin the i provision of a resilieiit coupling'vivhich Will compensate for all of the stressesiyor strains to which shafts are subjected and which Will eliminate thel action of centrifugal force to a great degree, butlIpr'ovide a coupling which is by far simpler in construction, by far more inexpensive than the usual costly and complicated couplings employed and now in common use for the purpose specified,v

It will also be apparenttthat in the event of a break due to a flaw in the coupling bar or due to its subjection to abnormal stresses or strains, the same inay be replaced at a nominal expense and witliin a comparatively short period of time. i

It will be understood that wliile I have indicated one use of my improved coupling shaft, that I am not necessarily limited to this use as the coupling herein shown and described maybe used for the purpose of coupling two shafts or mechanisms of any kind or class or may be inserted in a single sliaft at spaced intervals to compensate for stresses or strains on said shafts, and-'Various other changes in and modificationsrof'the construction herein shown and described may be made withinthe scope of the .ap-l pended claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention orsacrifieing LitsV advantages? f a n Having fully described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure byfLctters Patent, is v 1. vA coupliiig of the class deseribedlcomprising a bar of spring metal, the end of the shaft with which the bar is to be cou led being split through the axisof said sha t to form a socket, said bar being mounted in said socket and contained within the boundariesof said shaft, means for retaining the bar against displacement from said shaft eomprising a collar eneirclingthe split por- ;tion-ofivthe shaft for reinforcing the'same, and means for retaning said collar against displacement' from shaft. I

2; A eoupling ofthe class described comthe split portion of said the sh aft with wliicl the bar is to be coupled Vbeing split through the axis of said shaft to said socket and contained Within the bound-l aries of .said shaft, means for retaining the bar against displacement from said shaft comprising a collar encircling the split portion of the sliaft for reinforcing the same, means for ,retaining said collar against displacementv from the split portion of said shaft, and a U-shaped bearing in the split portion of the shaft in Which said bar is mounted. i

, 3. A coupling of the class described com- 'prising a bar of spring metal, the end ofthe shaft with Which the bar is to be eoupled being split through the axis of said shaft to form a socket, said bar being mounted in said socket and contained Within the boundaries of said shaft, means for retaining tlie bar against displacement from said syt comprising a collar encircling the split portion of the'shaft for reinforcing the same, means for retaining said collar against'displacement from the split portion of said lshaft, a U-shaped' bearing in the split portion of the' shaft in whicl said bar is mounted, and the split portion of said shaft being enlargcd.

` Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 23rd (lay of Feb., 1926. v

CARL H. KNUDSEN. 

